No one knew. She had not been in the bath-room, nor had she dressed, for her white gown was still lying on her cot.
A bell was ringing, which called the girls below. Eva, alone, lingered behind, looking everywhere for Amanda. At last, pausing to listen, she heard a faint sobbing, which seemed to come from the linen-closet. Eva opened the door, and there on the floor lay Amanda in a miserable heap of brown calico. She looked up with eyes that were red and swollen.
“Go away!” she said sullenly, but Eva leaned over and took hold of her hot hand.
“Amanda,” she said gently, “please come out. Do you want to spoil my party?”
“I’d spoil your party if I went to it,” sobbed Amanda. “Jenny Dixon said I would. She said that I am so cross and homely, she doesn’t see why I was invited.”
“Did Jenny Dixon say that to you?” asked Eva with a white face.
“No-o, she didn’t say it to me,” Amanda replied. “She whispered it to Mabel Hicks, but she knew that I would hear, and I won’t go to your party! I won’t! I won’t!”
“Very well,” said Eva firmly, “then neither will I! Amanda Brown, do you suppose that I would enjoy my birthday-party for one minute if I knew that some one was left out and unhappy?”
Amanda found it hard to understand Eva. “I don’t see why you should care about me,” she replied; “nobody else does.”
“But I do care,” Eva said sincerely. “Now please hurry, Amanda, and I will help you to dress.”